Four Seals, Four Horses, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Four Seals, Four Horses, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Explore the terrifying and prophetic vision of the Four Horsemen in Revelation 6 in this powerful Bible teaching. As the Lamb opens the first four seals, the world is shaken by deception, war, famine, and death.

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Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”

Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another;
and there was given to him a great sword.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.

Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”

Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by
the beasts of the earth.

Job 39:19 “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with
thunder?
Job 39:20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
Job 39:21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the
clash of arms.
Job 39:22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from
the sword.
Job 39:23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
Job 39:24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come
to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
Job 39:25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.

THE 1ST SEAL: THE WHITE HORSE OF DECEPTIVE PEACE.
Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Opinions on who is the first rider is include:
1) Jesus Christ
2) the advance of the gospel,
3) False religion
4) the antichrist,
5) the spirit of conquest,
6) government persecuting Christians,
7) Satan’s servants in general.
8) Not a person but a personification

Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat
on it was Death, and Hades

The horsemen are not persons, but personifications, representations
manifestations, embodiments,
It’s not that the four horses will actually ride over the earth, but are symbolical
representations of things that will happen

Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, …”

Daneil 11:21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give
the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by
Jeremiah 6:14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace,
peace!’ When there is no peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction
comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

THE 2ND SEAL: THE RED HORSE OF DESTRUCTIVE PUNISHMENT.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who
sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and
there was given to him a great sword.

Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom …”
Matthew 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;
but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Albert Einstein said,”The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything
except our way of thinking. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking
if mankind is to survive.”
President Ronald Reagon once said, “Man has used every weapon he has ever
devised … It takes no crystal ball to perceive that a nuclear war, is likely … In a
nuclear war, all mankind would lose.”
Former Soviet president Brezhnev once said, “Only he who has decided to
commit suicide can start a nuclear war.”

THE 3RD SEAL: THE BLACK HORSE OF DIVISIVE POVERTY.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barleåy for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”

Lamentations 5:10 Our skin is hot as an oven, because of the fever of famine.
Lamentations 4:9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger;
For these pine away, stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.

Matthew 24:7 “… And there will be famines …
Mark 13:8 “… and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

Revelation 6:6 “… and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

THE 4TH SEAL: THE PALE HORSE OF DEADLY PLAGUES.
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the
beasts of the earth.

Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be.

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But
Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.
Revelation 9:20 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues,
did not repent …”
Revelation 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their
sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Song “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we’d all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we’d all been ready
There’s no time to change your mind
The Son has come and you’ve been left behind

Acts 17:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this
to all by raising Him from the dead.

 

 

Why Don’t You Let Him Come In

Why Don’t You Let Him Come In

Next to John 3:16, Revelation 3:20 is perhaps the most famous evangelistic passage in the New Testament. It has been described as the simplest explanation of the plan of salvation in the Word of God. In this sermon, we explore the profound invitation of Jesus Christ to every individual.

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Scripture References: Revelation 1:4-5, 10, 18 Revelation 2:8 Revelation 3:20-22 Proverbs 4:23 John 1:12, 10:9 Galatians 2:20

Full Sermon Notes:

Revelation 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace
from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who
are before His throne,
Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead
and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from
our sins in His own blood,
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day …
Revelation 1:18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says
the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 3:22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Next to John 3:16, — Revelation 3:20 is perhaps the most famous evangelistic
passage of Scripture in the New Testament
This verse of Scripture has been described as “the simplest explanation of the plan
of salvation contained within the Word of God.”

1. WHOSE STANDING AT THE DOOR?
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door …
Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

2. WHAT DOES THE DOOR REPRESENT?
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock ….

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23 (CJB) Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of
life’s consequences.
Proverbs 4:23 (GNT) Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

There is an old hymn that includes these lines:
Somebody’s knocking at your door
Sounds like Jesus
Oh sinner why don’t you answer
Somebody’s knocking at your door.”

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:

3. WHO CAN LET HIM COME IN?
Revelation 3:20 “… If anyone … ”

Unbelief is never neutral
Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me …”

Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a
few sick people and healed them.
Mark 6:6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages
in a circuit, teaching.

Mark 8:18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do
you not remember?

Someone said, “We repeated the words without thinking about what they meant.”

4. HOW DOES HE SEEK ENTRANCE INTO OUR DOOR?
Revelation 2:20 “… If anyone hears My voice and opens the door…”

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Rita Coolidge said, “Too often the opportunity knocks, but by the time you disengage
the chain, push back the bolt, unhooked the two locks and shut off the burglar
alarms, it is too late.”

5. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I OPEN THE DOOR?
Revelation 3:20 “… I will come in to him,…”

The Christian life is defined as, “I in Christ and Christ in me.”
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Revelation 2:20 “… I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

With the Lord’s supper we dine with Him in remembrance of His sacrifice for us.

6. WILL WE HAVE TO OVERCOME OPPOSITION?
Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

7. WHY DON’T YOU LET HIM COME IN?
Revelation 3:22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches.'”

The “Hymn” “The Savior is Waiting” includes these lines:
The Savior is waiting to enter your heart
Why don’t you let Him come in
There’s nothing in this world to keep you apart
What is your answer to Him
Time after time He has waited before
And now He is waiting again
To see if you’re willing to open the door
Oh how He wants to come in

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, …

tPDF Transcript

Galatians: The Gospel of Grace,The Letter of Liberty

Galatians: The Gospel of Grace,The Letter of Liberty

This passage from Galatians 1:1-5 highlights Paul’s apostleship, his message of grace, and the mission of Christ to redeem sinners. It emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross, rejecting any addition of human effort to salvation. The text outlines the themes of ministry, message, mission, and motive, pointing to God’s glory and the transformative power of the gospel. Supporting Scriptures from Corinthians, Psalms, Matthew, John, and Titus further reinforce the doctrines of grace, redemption, and God’s sovereignty.

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Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
Galatians 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Galatians 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Don’t add anything to the finished work of the Cross of Christ
It’s not Christ plus…
Christ plus my performance…
Christ plus my good works…
Christ plus the meetings…
Christ plus holy communion,
Christ plus keeping away from bad things…
Christ plus doing good things…
Christ plus baptism, christening …
Christ plus baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues …
Christ plus church membership, church confirmations …
Christ plus denominations …
Christ plus the sacraments …

1) ONE MAN’S MINISTRY: GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy
to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his
special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than
any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me
by his grace.

Galatians 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

2) ONE MAN’S MESSAGE: GRACE OF GOD.
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

3) ONE MAN’S MISSION: GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Matthew 12:29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods,
unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill destroy; I have come that they
might have life, and have it to the full.”

1) It meant a transfer from darkness to light.
2) It meant a transfer from slavery to freedom.
3) It meant a transfer from condemnation to forgiveness.
4) It meant a transfer from the power of Satan to the power of God.

Psalm 22:4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
Psalm 22:5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were
not ashamed.

4) ONE MAN’S MOTIVE: GLORY OF GOD.
Galatians 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.

Hymn “To God Be The Glory”
To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in

Max Lucado (quote)
“You may be decent. You may pay taxes and kiss your kids and sleep with a clean
conscience. But apart from Christ you aren’t holy. So how can you go to heaven?
Only believe. Accept the work already done, the work of Jesus on the cross.
Only believe . . . It’s that simple? It’s that simple. It’s that easy?
There was nothing easy at all about it. The cross was heavy, the blood was real,
and the price was extravagant. It would have bankrupted you or me, so he paid
it for us. Call it simple. Call it a gift. But don’t call it easy. Call it what it is.
Call it grace.”

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories

“Ghost Stories” delves into Biblical accounts of supernatural or ghostly encounters to reveal greater truths about faith and fear. With passages like Matthew 14, where Jesus walks on water, and Luke 16, recounting the rich man’s appeal from Hades, this sermon contrasts common fears of ghosts with the Biblical command to fear and revere God alone. It encourages listeners to replace fear of the unknown with confidence in God’s power and presence.

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Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking
on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!
It is I; do not be afraid.”

Most people believe that ghosts are the spirits of the living dead, and over 40%
of American adults claim to have been in contact with someone who’s died.
Of these, 78% claim that they saw a ghost, 50% heard one, and 18% claim to have
actually talked with them.

Students in a writing class were challenged to pen two sentence horror stories:
“Every night at midnight, I’d hear a faint cry for help until one night I let my curiosity
get the best of me and followed the voice. I ended up staring at a headstone with
my name engraved on it.” -Savannah Fernandez, ninth grade
“After working without rest, I finally opened my mother’s door and I lay there leaning
my head upon her cold shoulders. It was time to leave before the groundskeeper
found me, so I got up and reburied her.” -Jaser Flores, 12th grade
I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. As I stood in front of
the mirror, there was no one staring back at me.” -Lucas Smelser, ninth grade
GHOST STORY #1: Jesus Appears as a Ghost to His Disciples.
Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking
on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!
It is I; do not be afraid.”

Luke 23:46 (KJV) “… and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Ghost or Phantom definition
1. Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality;
2. The soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as
appearing to living people
3. Something that is not real and exists only in a person’s mind.

Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer!
It is I; do not be afraid.”

GHOST STORY #2: The Rich Man, Lazarus and a Ghostly Request.
Luke 16:19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine
linen and fared sumptuously every day.
Luke 16:20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was
laid at his gate,
Luke 16:21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.
Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to
Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar
off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:23 (MSG) In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the
distance and Lazarus in his lap.
Luke 16:23 (TLB) And his soul went into hell. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in
the far distance with Abraham.

Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves
thrust out.

Luke 16:24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am
tormented in this flame.’
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received
your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and
you are tormented.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.

Luke 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed,
so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from
there pass to us.’

No one (spirit or ghost) can pass from heaven to hell or from hell to heaven.

Luke 16:27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him
to my father’s house,
Luke 16:28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also
come to this place of torment.’

Samuel Clemens “Mark Twain” said in a speech (quote)
A dying man couldn’t make up his mind which place to go to — both have their
advantages, “heaven for climate, hell for company!”

Luke 16:29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them
hear them.’
Luke 16:30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from
the dead, they will repent.’

The torment of the dead is that they cannot warn the living,

Luke 16:31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.

A Woody Allen movie character said:
“If only God would speak to me–just once. If he would only cough. If I could just
see a miracle. If I could see a burning bush or the seas part. Or my uncle Sasha
pick up the check.”

1 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV) Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and
foolishness to Gentiles

GHOST STORY #3: Dead Saints are Raised and go to Jerusalem.
Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
Matthew 27:52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had
fallen asleep were raised;
Matthew 27:53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into
the holy city and appeared to many.

Our problem is we are afraid of things we should not be afraid of and we are
not afraid of things we should be afraid of.
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Scripture References:

  • Matthew 14:25-27
  • Luke 16:19-31
  • Matthew 27:50-53
  • Luke 13:28
  • James 2:13
  • Matthew 10:28
  • 1 Corinthians 1:22-23
The Ransom Payment and The Census Plague

The Ransom Payment and The Census Plague

“The Ransom Payment and The Census Plague” is part of the “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals” sermon series. This message focuses on the instruction given to Moses in Exodus 30 regarding the census and the ransom payment required for each person. Through a deep dive into key Biblical passages, the sermon emphasizes that God owns the lives of His people and establishes the need for atonement. It highlights the equal ransom price for all, rich and poor, symbolizing that everyone stands equally before God and needs redemption. The message connects the Old Testament concept of ransom to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s sacrificial death, shedding light on the significance of atonement, repentance, and God’s divine ownership.

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Exodus 30:11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
Exodus 30:12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number,
then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number
them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give:
half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs).
The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord.
Exodus 30:14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty
years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord.
Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than
half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for
yourselves.
Exodus 30:16 And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel,
and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a
memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for
yourselves.”

I. THE CENSUS COMMAND.
Exodus 30:11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
Exodus 30:12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number,

1. God Owns The Lives Of His People.

A.W. Pink comments:
When God numbers or orders anything to be numbered, taking the sum of them
denotes that they belong to Him, and that He has the sovereign right to do with
them as He pleases. The action itself says of the things numbered. ‘These are
Mine, and I assign them their place as I will.”

Isaiah 40:26 “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.”

Job 14:5 “Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom

II) THE WAR PREPARATION.
Exodus 30:14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty
years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord.

Numbers 1:2 Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their
families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male
individually,
Numbers 1:3 from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel.
You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
This is one place where the Scripture indicates that ONLY MEN should serve as
military combatants.

1 Chronicles 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number
Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:2 So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number
Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.”

1 Chronicles 21:3 And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred
times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants?
Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?”

1 Chronicles 21:4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore
Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 21:5 Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David.
All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and
Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.

Zechariah 4:6 …’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
Ephesians 6:10 … be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

1 Chronicles 21:14 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men
of Israel fell.

1 Chronicles 21:17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people
to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep,
what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my
father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

A prisoner in the DC correctional facility said, “I am living among the biggest
crybabies in the world. Everybody here blames somebody else for putting him in jail.
One says, ‘I had a mean father; he put me here.’ Another says, ‘I went to a tough
school, the other kids put me here.’ Somebody else says, ‘Rich people put me
here, prejudiced police put me here, the establishment put me here.’”
They are all crybabies. I know who put me here. I put me here.”

Ezekiel 18:20 (NLT) “… The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the
parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded
for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own
wickedness.

III. THE RANSOM PRICE.
Exodus 30:12 “… then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, …”

Matthew 20:28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.”

1. The Ransom Must Be Given For Their Life To Avoid Death.
Exodus 30:12 “… when you number them, that there may be no plague among them
when you number them.

Exodus 12:12 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike
all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods
of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
Exodus 12:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are.
And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you
to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

2. The Ransom Price Was Divinely Fixed.
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give:
half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs).
The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord.

3. The Ransom Is The Same For All, Whether Rich Or Poor.
Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than
half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for
yourselves.

Alexander MacLaren states –
Thus there is but one Sacrifice for all; and the poorest can exercise faith and the
richest can do no more.”

Psalm 49:6 Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches
Psalm 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God
a ransom for him—
Psalm 49:8 For the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever—
Psalm 49:9 That he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.

Hebrews 9:21 Then likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels
of the ministry with the blood.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed
with blood …
Hebrews 9:21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the
vessels of the ministry.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood,
and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on
the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life
that makes atonement”

In its rejection of Christ, the plagues in the book of Revelation will come upon the world.
Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven
angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed
the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and
give Him glory.

4. The Ransom Money Pictures Christ.
1 Peter 1:18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

Scripture References:

  • Exodus 30:11-16
  • Isaiah 40:26
  • Job 14:5
  • Psalm 90:12
  • Numbers 1:2-3
  • 1 Chronicles 21:1-5, 21:14, 21:17
  • Zechariah 4:6
  • Ephesians 6:10
  • Ezekiel 18:20
  • Matthew 20:28
  • Exodus 12:12-13
  • Psalm 49:6-9
  • Hebrews 9:21-22
  • Leviticus 17:11
  • Revelation 15:1, 16:9
  • 1 Peter 1:18-19

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